Chapter 320: The Legacy

“Why strive to be a king?” Qian Ye showed no interest in the matter.

“Actually, you have already established a model for Eternight, even if you are not aware of it,” Song Zining said.

“You mean… Yōng Lù?”

“Yes.”

“What does that have to do with the present situation?”

“If you were on the Holy Mountain, you would still be part of Eternnight. Moreover, as the Spider Queen just mentioned, even if you become a Holy Mountain, not everything can be decided by you. When the time comes, if the other Holy Mountains unite, even if Ye Pupil helps you at every turn, you will not have the upper hand. How can you make the human race feel safe following you? And what can you use to protect the humans beyond your domain?”

The Spider Queen frowned but did not speak.

“But I do not wish to be a king…”

“This is not about what you want anymore. You are now tied to this world; where is the room for avoidance? Have you not suffered enough from the past? Rather than being bullied by those ignorant weaklings, why not take control of everything yourself?” Song Zining spoke bluntly.

“If you ascend to the Holy Mountain, it is no different from becoming a king,” the Spider Queen stated.

Song Zining replied calmly, “Qian Ye is already the strongest among the Holy Mountains, and in the future, he will overpower them. If that’s the case, why should he associate with you and be constrained by a group of weaklings?”

The Spider Queen sneered, “We are well aware of Qian Ye’s strength. But to say that the first drop of blood in the Crimson River could overwhelm the Holy Mountains is quite a stretch.”

Song Zining laughed, “Is the vision of the Holy Mountains limited to the Crimson River? The true secret of the Crimson River is the Chaos that contains all things and is the origin of all things! This is Qian Ye’s true strength right now.”

The Spider Queen was slightly taken aback, clearly unaware that the truth about the first drop of blood in the Crimson River was such. She only knew that Qian Ye had cultivated the primal force of Chaos, comparable to the illusory force of An Duyia, the Lord of Eternnight, but she did not know the connection between the primal force of Chaos and the Crimson River.

“But Qian Ye’s future lies not in Eternnight, but in Dawn, the Heavenly King! The realm of the Heavenly King is just the beginning, constrained only by this world. Now, the great destiny of the human race has ended, and their lifespan has greatly increased. What difficulty is there for Qian Ye to advance to the next realm? Do you really think the path of Eternnight is so extraordinary?” Song Zining ridiculed without mercy.

The Spider Queen’s face gradually turned ashen, “Eternnight and Dawn are two poles of the world. How can one be superior to the other?”

“Eternnight and Dawn may be equal, but your path is not. Just because you cannot achieve something does not mean Qian Ye cannot.”

The Spider Queen did not get angry but pondered, and after a moment, asked, “Then how should our path be walked?”

Song Zining was taken aback, looked at the Spider Queen, and confirmed that she was not joking but genuinely asking.

After a moment’s hesitation, Song Zining said, “Each race has its own path. The way of others can only be referenced, not copied. So the true path requires exploration; there is no ready-made solution. For example, the human race, over a thousand years, based on blackstone and powered steam, has developed a path where even ordinary people can contribute and benefit. The Heavenly Way is good, but it cannot benefit the masses.”

The Spider Queen listened intently and said, “I am enlightened.”

Song Zining showed some shame, “I know these principles not through my own efforts but standing on the shoulders of countless wise predecessors.”

Even after hearing the discussion on the Great Path, Qian Ye still did not know what he should do.

Seeing this, Song Zining asked, “Qian Ye, when you achieved the realm of Heavenly King, did you ever think about what your path was?”

“My path… never mind, it’s irrelevant now.” Qian Ye shook his head.

Song Zining did not press further but handed him a flat piece of jade, saying, “This is for you.”

Qian Ye took it and saw that the jade was slightly yellow and could be opened. As soon as he held the jade box, he felt a strange resonance, as if something in his life was responding to it.

“What is this?”

“It is a sign of Auspicious Light. It was Commander Lin’s final legacy, originally left for the King of Qingyang. The King of Qingyang did not open it and gave it to me. I did not open it either, and now it is in your hands.”

“What is a sign of Auspicious Light? Why didn’t any of you open it?” Qian Ye was puzzled.

“How could we dare to open a gift from Commander Lin? After much thought, only you are the most suitable.” Song Zining seemed to be holding back a laugh.

Qian Ye was even more bewildered, about to put away the jade box, but it opened on its own. Countless filaments of light, like feathers, fluttered up and entered Qian Ye’s body.

Qian Ye’s whole body trembled, his eyes drooped, and he seemed to fall into a deep sleep.

The Spider Queen was startled and reached out, but Song Zining stopped her, shaking his head gently. The Spider Queen withdrew her hand and waited quietly for any changes.

Even the Holy Mountains of Eternnight were afraid of Lin Xitang. Since it was a legacy from Lin Xitang, even the physically dominant Rosina did not want to touch it.

Song Zining also waited quietly.

They waited for an hour.

As Qian Ye showed no signs of waking, the Spider Queen grew anxious, but Song Zining remained calm as a mountain.

“Aren’t you afraid?” the Spider Queen could not help but ask. She now had some interest in Song Zining, who was hailed as the strongest Heaven Mechanic after Lin Xitang.

“Whether the Celestial Radiance succeeds or fails, I will not die. What is there to fear?” Song Zining laughed.

The Spider Queen was a bit annoyed but felt powerless to act.

At that moment, Qian Ye finally slowly opened his eyes. As he opened them, a long, resonant sound echoed from the depths of the floating land, as if in response.

Qian Ye looked up at the sky, his eyes gazing into the endless distance, and sighed, “So, there is another realm above the Four Pillars of Destiny.”

Song Zining was surprised and said, “What did you say? Isn’t the Four Pillars of Destiny the highest realm of the Great Evolutionary Heavenly Mechanic Art? Wait, how do you know so much about the Great Evolutionary Heavenly Mechanic Art?”

Qian Ye smiled, “Didn’t you teach me the Heavenly Mechanic Art before?”

Song Zining recalled that he had only taught some basic principles and had not mentioned the Great Evolutionary Heavenly Mechanic Art at all.

He looked at Qian Ye, puzzled, and asked, “What did Commander Lin tell you? What is there after the Four Pillars of Destiny?”

Qian Ye did not answer but stood with his hands behind his back, deep in thought. Song Zining, even with a belly full of questions, could only hold them in. But this matter involved the Heavenly Mechanic Art, the highest secret text of the art. This curiosity was not easily suppressed.

Song Zining looked at his palm, where several elegant characters miraculously appeared, in the handwriting of Li Hou.

“The Great Evolutionary Heavenly Mechanic Art was originally the orthodox teaching passed down by Xufu of the Immortal Heaven? This… This… Commander Lin actually deduced a new realm on top of the highest realm?!” Song Zining could not hide his shock, shifting uneasily and suddenly thinking of a new question, “If that’s the case, how did he die on the floating land? Who in this world could kill him?”

At this moment, Qian Ye sighed softly, turned around, his eyes clear, and said, “I understand now.”

“What will you do?” the Spider Queen asked.

“For now, I need to find An Wen. I have some matters to discuss with him, and then I will meet the Immortal Envoy.”

The Spider Queen was full of confusion, but Qian Ye clearly did not intend to stay out of it, which was the best outcome. She did not ask more questions, shot out several spider threads, and hung one on each person, then said, “Let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll take you to the Hall of Fate.”

Qian Ye turned his head, glanced at a void, smiled, and flicked the spider thread on his body, disappearing.